Don’t Wreck Your Summer Road Trip

Tips from AAA to keep you driving smoothly during summer vacation

Advance preparation and planning are essential to a successful, fun-filled summer road trip. AAA recommends travelers seek assistance with their trip plans and preparations prior to departure. 

While many consumers have the confidence and knowledge to handle various aspects of their trip plans without help, having your vehicle professionally inspected by a trained technician before making a long drive, and working with a trusted travel advisor in person or online to select accommodations, activities and routes can be the two most important decisions made when planning a vacation. 

AAA.com can be a valuable resource when preparing for a summer road trip with features such as the TripTik® Travel Planner and local searches for AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities.

AAA also recommends these tips when preparing for a summer road trip:

During hot summer driving, fluids are key

• Check the engine oil level. If it is low, top it off with the type of oil specified in your owner's manual. If the mileage for a manufacturer-recommended service interval will be reached while on your trip, have the necessary work done before you leave rather than waiting until afterwards.

• With the engine warm and running, check the automatic transmission fluid level. If the level is low, top it off with the fluid type recommended in your owner’s manual. Be careful not to overfill the transmission.

• Check the coolant level in the overflow tank and top off as needed with a 50-50 mix of antifreeze and water. If the engine is cool, check the coolant level in the radiator as well. If the radiator is not completely full, have the cooling system checked by a professional. CAUTION! Never remove the radiator cap when the engine is hot.

• Brake fluid does not require topping off provided the level is between the full and low marks on the reservoir. A fluid level near or below the low marking could signal worn brakes or a leak in the system. Have the system inspected by a professional.

Make sure you can see, and be seen

• Replace windshield wipers that leave streaks or don’t clear the glass with a single swipe.

• Make sure all vehicle lights, including headlights, taillights, brake lights and turn signals are all functioning properly.

• Top off the windshield washer fluid reservoir with an appropriate cleaning solvent.

Check for wear and tear before hitting the road

• Ensure the battery cables are securely attached and the terminals are free of corrosion.

• With the engine off and cool, check the drive belts. Replace any that are cracked, glazed or frayed. Check belts without an automatic tensioner, for proper tension—no more that one-half inch deflection when the belt is pressed midway between two pulleys.

• Check the radiator and heater hoses for visible wear, soft spots or bulges, and look for leaks around clamps and the water pump.

Never forget the importance of your tires

• Check and adjust tire pressures to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended settings; don’t forget the spare. Inspect the tire sidewalls for bulges, and check the tread for excessive or uneven wear that indicates the need for wheel alignment and/or tire replacement.

• For maximum life, rotate your tires at the mileage intervals specified in your owner’s manual. Note that some vehicles use differently-sized tires front and rear that cannot be rotated.

Know where you are going and how to get there

• Plan ahead by getting up-to-date, accurate maps and routing information in advance.

• For long trips, plan stops along the way to stay alert. Use an online service such as the TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com to help you find restaurants and lodgings along your route. To find the best lodging rates book in advance and take advantage of discounts.  In a recent review of several online travel booking sites, AAA.com offered AAA members the best publicly available rate on partner hotels 69 percent of the time.

• AAA maps and TripTik routings are available at you local AAA office. Alternatively, you can create and print your own routing on the newly enhanced online TripTik Planner on AAA.com. New features include the capability to create custom maps, a new travel guide section, easier navigation and an improved route modification tool. The route modification tool helps you to customize trips to fit specific preferences and now has a new drag-and-drop feature to reroute directions. One click can select a scenic route or a different way home.

• It is advisable that travelers share their itinerary with friends and family for safety.

• During a road trip, it’s a good idea to create a budget to allot for fuel costs. Travelers can calculate their trips expected fuel costs in advance by using AAA’s Fuel Cost Calculator at FuelCostCalculator.com or by entering their zipcode into www.aaa.com/fuelfinder. Users can also access time-saving construction and historic traffic congestion information on AAA.com with the TripTik Travel Planner, as well as the latest fuel prices at more than 100,000 U.S. gas stations, including E-85 fuel availability.

• For additional savings visit AAA.com/SearchForSavings to research discounts available at your destination and along your route.

Be smart when packing your vehicle

• A few basics to have on board during road trips include a small first aid kit, your vehicle’s owners manual, a flashlight and a tire pressure gauge. It’s also a good idea to keep an emergency tire inflator and sealer with you. This can help you safely and quickly get off the side of the road and to a safer location for further assistance. If you use an emergency tire inflator and sealer, drive at a lower speed and have your tire repair or replaced as soon as possible.

• Always keep a fully-charged cell phone with you so you can call for help in case of a breakdown. A car charger for your cell phone is a good idea, especially on long road trips.

• Be sure you take the phone number and membership number of your roadside assistance provider. While AAA offers service anywhere across the U.S. and Canada, some providers are limited in where they will provide service, or might require you to pay for your service out-of-pocket and request reimbursement. Check with your service provider before leaving to make sure you will be fully covered anywhere you go on your trip. 

• Consider taking a GPS navigation device with you. It may be a portable or handheld device such as a Magellan unit, or you may be able to turn your GPS-capable cell phone into a navigation system by downloading a program such as AAA Mobile®. Both Magellan and AAA Mobile offer turn-by-turn directions, as well as information on AAA Approved lodging and restaurants, points-of-interest, Show Your Card & Save locations and Approved Auto Repair facilities. 

• Check and observe your vehicle’s payload capacity, which is the maximum combined weight of all cargo and passengers that can be safely carried. You can typically find this figure on a sticker attached to the driver’s door of the vehicle.

• Limit any load on top of your vehicle to a maximum of 18” high and no more than 100 pounds.

• Do not overload the trunk or rear cargo compartment. Items in a vehicle’s open cargo area or on the roof should be properly secured to prevent shifting of the load.